Public Sector And Livelihood Opportunities For Persons With Disabilities In South Region Zanzibar

ABSTRACT

This study is about Public Sector and Livelihood Opportunities of People with Disabilities in Zanzibar. The general objective was to identify the public sector initiatives and achievements in improving livelihood opportunities obtained by people with disabilities in Zanzibar and the challenges that hinder their sustainability. The study was cross-sectional and carried out in Zanzibar, South Region in particular involved four villages.A total number of one hundred and twenty (120) respondents were covered, including 85 people with different disabilities who were randomly selected and 35 respondents including officials, parents and teachers who were purposively selected. The study found out that a considerable number of people with disabilities could not proceed beyond primary level and lower secondary levels. This results in only a small number of people with disabilities to have been employed in either public or private sectors. The study revealed that people with disabilities participate in a few income generating activities. They engage in agricultural activities, hand-working, small business, fishing and a few in office work. The survey data showed that the public sectors play a big role to make sure that the livelihoods of people with disabilities is improving. They confirmed that people with disabilities face a lot of challenges that hinder the implementation of livelihood strategies within the society. The study suggested further studies on disability issues specifically on livelihoods related to each individual category of disabilities.